Tom Baker returns in 'Doctor Who' to finish lost 1979 episode 'Shada'
The Fourth Doctor makes a triumphant return to finish a lost episode of "Doctor Who." Tom Baker returns as the Time Lord to complete the filming of an episode called "Shada," which was abandoned in 1979.
BBC Worldwide gathered the scenes of the lost episode together using the episode's original script, which was written by the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" author Douglas Adams. They have completed this particular chapter by creating animated versions of the characters voiced by the original stars themselves. This even includes Baker's companion, Lalla Ward, who played the role of Romana II.
The Fourth Doctor can be heard delivering the original lines that Adams wrote as if he is seeing the future. "I expect that sometime in the future - in about 200 years' time - someone will meet me and say, 'Is that really the Doctor?" Baker said. When the actor was asked on why he agreed to reprise the role and continue the episode, he said, Asked why he had agreed to reprise the role, he said, "I think it never left me and that's why I can't stay away from it."
In "Doctor Who" episode titled "Shada," the Time Lords build a "high-security prison" for the most dangerous criminals in the universe. However, complications arise when Skarga, a Drornidian from the planet of Dronoid, decides to visit the penitentiary. Here, he plans to extract the prisoners' criminal intelligence.
But for him to find the hidden place, he has to call the Time Lord, who happens to be on Earth portraying his different persona as Professor Chronotis at St. Cedd's College in Cambridge. The Time Lord will then call his old pal and protege, the Doctor.
"Shada" was cut because of the BBC strike that happened at the time. In fact, it still had seven hours of filming left to finish the episode. Originally, it was set to be the celebratory ending of "Doctor Who" season 17.
Fans will see the completion of "Shada" in a two-disk DVD that will be released on Jan. 9, 2018 in the U.S. It can also be downloaded digitally from iTunes and other outlets starting on Friday, Dec. 1.
